For example, I'm running a $1000 CAD CPU and it's going to take me a full year to mine a single XMR, which is worth US$ 215 at the moment. That's not counting the RAM or the motherboard, etc. because I can still use the computer for other things while it's mining. 16 cores / 32 threads will do that for you. Still, counting power I won't get my investment back in 5 years' time.

I'm also mining Ethereum, and for that, CAD$2500 worth of hardware is grossing me US$ 320 per month, or CAD $ 480, minus power for a net of 361 a month. But back when this equipment was bought, I was grossing CAD $800 a month with it.

Completely different ball game. The supply of XMR is not constrained as per the coin, but the hardware requirements are the real constraint.